The Toronto Blue Jays have plenty of work to do as they prepare for next season, particularly when it comes to their pitching staff.
Amid injuries and other setbacks, Toronto leaned heavily on its bullpen in 2026, with relievers logging a substantial workload as the club navigated another demanding campaign. Reinforcing that group figures to be an important part of the offseason, even as former members of the organization settle into new homes.
One veteran who spent seven seasons with the Blue Jays has already secured his next chapter. After moving between multiple organizations over the past two years, the left-hander has found a place to continue his career, giving him an opportunity to build on a productive season and remain with a team that has a special place in his life.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Mets Outfielder Cuts Ties With Team Immediately After Season Ends
Former Toronto Blue Jays Veteran Reunites With Hometown Team
After seven seasons with the Blue Jays, then a tumultuous couple of seasons, long-time Blue Jays southpaw Tim Mayza is returning to his hometown Philadelphia Phillies on a one-year contract.
“Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced on Thursday that they had re-signed left-hander Tim Mayza to a one-year contract,” Todd Zolecki reported for MLB.com. “The Phillies officially announced the contract on Friday.”
Mayza’s return to Philadelphia carries personal significance beyond the opportunity to remain in the major leagues. The Allentown, Pennsylvania, native grew up supporting the Phillies before Toronto selected him in the 12th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He spent much of his big-league career with the Blue Jays, making Toronto a major part of his professional journey before his departure in 2024. But upon signing his reunion contract, Mayza noted just how much things have changed since he pitched for Toronto.
“I grew up as a fan of the team and grew up watching some great teams and a World Series champion,” Mayza said of the Phillies, according to Lancaster Online’s Brian Smith. “Then with the Jays, I come into town and I’m the opponent, and now I kind of get a taste of being a Philadelphia Phillie and what it’s like to be within the organization.”
The comments offer a glimpse into how different his latest opportunity is from his years in Toronto, when visits to Philadelphia meant facing the team he once cheered for.
FORBES | By Peter Chawaga
Trump’s Yankees Ally Going Nowhere After ‘Total Fake News’ Dismissal Update, Per Insider
Toronto Blue Jays Castoff Enjoys Resurgence With Hometown Team
Mayza’s path back to the Phillies after his years with the Blue Jays was far from straightforward.
“It’s been an eventful few years for Mayza,” Smith added. “He was released by the Toronto Blue Jays, the team that drafted him in the 12th round in 2013, in July 2024, then signed with the Yankees later that month, eventually pitching for them in that season’s World Series. He signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh in February 2025 before being claimed off waivers by the Phillies that August. He didn’t have a home for 2026 until he received a minor-league deal from the Phillies in January, with a non-roster invitation to spring training.”
The left-hander made the most of that opportunity. Mayza recorded a 3.48 ERA across 60 appearances in 2026 while pitching a career-high 67 1/3 innings.
His return gives Philadelphia another experienced left-handed option for 2027. For Toronto, meanwhile, his journey is another reminder of how quickly familiar players can move on — and find a meaningful new role elsewhere.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com